The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-02-09
A TRAIN IN A TRAP.
Halted on a Trestle by Masked Men
and Robbed.

Halted on a Trestle by Masked Men
and Robbed.
Two miles east of Gordon, on the Texas
and Pacific Railroad, between two aud three
O'Clock Sunday morning, one of the most
daring and successful train robberies
that was ever committed in Texas was per-
petrated by eight armed and masked
men. The following are the facts:
As the regular passenger train pulled out
from Gordon for the East two masked men
hoped on the engine, one on each side Ihe
engineer John Bosquet, turned to them and
asked, "Where are you fellows going:" Just
Of them. You will not ride here:
said Bosquet. II guess we. will" said
the man, and i'll an, instant the
engineer was covered with two pistols
pointed directly at his head. He was Or
derei to pull ahead, which he did until he
reached the coal chute a. the trestle bridge,
something over mile east of Gordon Here
the engineer discovered that ,obStructlons
had been placed across the track and was or
dered by the two men, who still held their
pistols in hand, to Iull up. He did 50,
the train stopping with the engine, baggage
and express car on the east side OF the treS-
tie, while all the passeng coaches and the
sleeperS were directly over 1t, making IL ln-
possible for passengers t. get out OF the cars.
As soon as the train stopped six more men,
all armed. appeared and ordered the engi-
neer to take his pick and hammer and break
in the door of the express car. He refused
at first, but was induced to do SO
by threats of instant d .ath in case of con-
tinued refusal. He took the hammer, went 10
the door and struck scve. al blows On it, cali
ing on Messenger Losky to open 1t or he
would be killed. The robbers stood by: ana
while the engineer was calling to Losky to
open. fired q number of shots through the
door, which caused the door to be
opened, and the robbers entered the
car, robbing the safe Of all the money
they could find. The amount of the loss
could not be ascertaine exactly. but report
places it at sums ranging from sS,ooo 10
SIS, ,0OO Messenger Losky was, all the time
the robbers We're trying to get in the car,
endeavoring to secrete the money in his pos
session. but on account Of the continuous
firing into his car thought it best to open the
door, as the robbers on the outside were
threatening to burn the car.
Having finished work in the express car,
the robbers went to the mail car and made
demand on the route agent Tor all money or
valuables he had Thinking that the rob
bers would not dare to molest the United
States mail, the agent was very cool, and
told them that they were in the wrong
place and that he was United States mail
man. This declaration had no effect
on the robbers who told the official that un-
less he complied with their demands he
would soon be q dead man. There were
sixty registered mail packages in the car,
but while the robbers were engaged in gong
through the express matter the mail agent
had secured thirty-two Of them and only
gave up twenty eight. Having finished the
mail, one of the robbers proposed to the
Others to 20 back and rob the passengers
"Never mind the passengers said one who
appeared to be the leader. 1--WE are doing
we'll enough here and then, by this time,
they have hid all their stuff" The value Of
the registered packages taken from the
mail cannot be estimated. Having finished
their work. the robbers left the train anil
disappeared and the train came on East.
There was Sheriff tsaid to he from Dallas
on the train, who when he found out what
was going on ahead, ran out on the platform
of the car, and leaning out fired at the
robbers and in turn was tired on. He was in
duced to cease firing by the fear that he
would strike the engineer or the fire
man, who were standing among the robbers
at the express.car door. There were also
three colored soldiers on the train and they
were stationed at the door of the cars and
would have made fight had the robbers at
tempted to enter the passenger car.